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Detecting banana pseudostems is an indispensable part of the intelligent management of banana cultivation, which can be used in settings such as counting banana pseudostems and smart fertilization. In complex environments, dense and occlusion banana pseudostems pose a significant challenge for detection. This paper proposes an improved YOLOV7 deep learning object detection algorithm, YOLOV7-FM, for detecting banana pseudostems with different growth conditions. In the loss optimization part of the YOLOV7 model, Focal loss is introduced, to optimize the problematic training for banana pseudostems that are dense and sheltered, so as to improve the recognition rate of challenging samples. In the data augmentation part of the YOLOV7 model, the Mixup data augmentation is used, to improve the model's generalization ability for banana pseudostems with similar features to complex environments. This paper compares the AP (average precision) and inference speed of the YOLOV7-FM algorithm with YOLOX, YOLOV5, YOLOV3, and Faster R-CNN algorithms. The results show that the AP and inference speed of the YOLOV7-FM algorithm is higher than those models that are compared, with an average inference time of 8.0 ms per image containing banana pseudostems and AP of 81.45%. This improved YOLOV7-FM model can achieve fast and accurate detection of banana pseudostems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-target recognition and positioning using robots in orchards is a challenging task in modern precision agriculture owing to the presence of complex noise disturbance, including wind disturbance, changing illumination, and branch and leaf shading. To obtain the target information for a bud-cutting robotic operation, we employed a modified deep learning algorithm for the fast and precise recognition of banana fruits, inflorescence axes, and flower buds. Thus, the cutting point on the inflorescence axis was identified using an edge detection algorithm and geometric calculation. We proposed a modified YOLOv3 model based on clustering optimization and clarified the influence of front-lighting and backlighting on the model. Image segmentation and denoising were performed to obtain the edge images of the flower buds and inflorescence axes. The spatial geometry model was constructed on this basis. The center of symmetry and centroid were calculated for the edges of the flower buds. The equation for the position of the inflorescence axis was established, and the cutting point was determined. Experimental results showed that the modified YOLOv3 model based on clustering optimization showed excellent performance with good balance between speed and precision both under front-lighting and backlighting conditions. The total pixel positioning error between the calculated and manually determined optimal cutting point in the flower bud was 4 and 5 pixels under the front-lighting and backlighting conditions, respectively. The percentage of images that met the positioning requirements was 93 and 90%, respectively. The results indicate that the new method can satisfy the real-time operating requirements for the banana bud-cutting robot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudo-stem diameter of banana is an important phenotype parameter reflecting the crop health and growth. Moreover, it indicates the lodging resistance as an important factor for peasants. For rapid measurement of pseudo-stems diameters, a 3D reconstruction algorithm is proposed. This algorithm consists of pseudo-stem reconstruction, point clouds data fitting, and parameter extraction of a depth image obtained by the red, green, blue-depth (RGB-D) camera by using a Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm. The experimental results show that the average measurement error of the pseudo-stem is 4.06 mm. The average relative measurement error is 2.34%. The mentioned results demonstrate the superior treatment effect of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A method for Segmenting and counting banana bunches for debudding. • Fusion algorithm-based detection and counting for banana bunches in harvest. • An estimation model for overall bunches counting based on growth pattern. • Counting accuracy were 86% for debudding and 93.2% for harvesting. Robots must first detect the number of banana bunches when making judgements on sterile bud removal and estimating weight for harvest in the field environment. Banana bunches are complex in shape, arranged in a nonlinear helical curve along the stalk, and have different growth states in different periods, with bunches widely spaced in the early period and densely arranged in the harvest period. Deep learning nor classical image-processing algorithms alone can detect and count bunches in both periods. Therefore, these algorithms were combined to calculate the number of bunches in the two periods. For counting bunches in the debudding period, the convolutional neural network Deeplab V3 + model and classic image-processing algorithm were combined to finely segment bunches and calculate bunch numbers, providing intelligent decision-making for judgment on the timing for debudding. To count bunches during harvest, based on deep learning to identify the overall banana fruit cluster, the edge detection algorithm was employed to extract the centroid points of fruit fingers, and the clustering algorithm was used to determine the optimal number of bunches on the visual detection surface. An estimation model for the total number of bunches, including hidden ones, was created based on their helical curve arrangement. The results indicated a target segmentation MIoU of 0.878 during the debudding period, a mean pixel precision of 0.936, and a final bunch detection accuracy rate of 86%. Bunch detection was highly challenging during the harvest period, with a detection accuracy rate of 76% and a final overall bunch counting accuracy rate of 93.2%. Software was designed to estimate banana fruit weight during the harvest period. This research method provided a theoretical basis and experimental data support for automatic sterile bud removal and weight estimation for bananas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]